Air ventilated suit



NOV- 3, 1953 A. M. KLEIN ET Al. 2,657,396

AIR VENTILATED SUIT Filed March 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1953 A. M. KLEIN ET AL AIR VENTILATED SUIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1951 Nov. 3, 1953 A. M. KLEIN ET AL. 2,657,396

AIR VENTILATED SUIT Filed March 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR VENTILATED SUIT Arnold M. Klein, Brooklyn, N. Y., and John F. Hall, Jr., Dayton, Ohio (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

sec. 2 6) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

'Ihis invention relates to air conditioned garments and particularly to an improved coverall having means to insure more even distribution of the conditioned air over the human body.

Operators working in situations where the ambient air is excessively hot, as in cabs of aircraft, laboratory test ovens or the like, or where it is excessively cold, as in laboratory refrigerating rooms or places of like nature, nd it necessary for efficient operation to wear some sort of garment through which conditioned air may be supplied over the body areas from some air conditioned source.

The difficulty heretofore encountered however inr designing a suit of this character has been the unequal distribution of the conditioned air over all areas ofthe body.

Broadly the invention comprises (l) an outer air impermeable coverall, (2) an inner liner of fine sieve like mesh cloth, (3) a plurality of cords spaced apart on, and sewn at intervals to, the inner liner, a means of dividing the space between the coverall layer and the inner liner into a plurality of body areas, and (4) a manifold for conveying conditioned air from a source outside the coverall to the body areas.

It is therefore the prime object of this invention to so construct a ventilated garment that equal areas receive equal amounts of conditioned air equally spread over the areas so that the conditioned air may be distributed in a predetermined manner best suited to the Work in hand.

Other objects will become evident as the inventionV is further described with reference to the drawings, wherein: Y

Fig. l is a front View of our invention in its simplest form part being open and part broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a front View, partly open showing an improved modification of the device Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a rearview, part broken away, of the modification Fig. 2. f'

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken at 4-4 2 air distributing tube used in the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the exemplication IIJ of the invention comprises an outer impervious onepiece cover I2 which may be fabricated from neoprene coated nylon or its equivalent, and an inner one-piece liner I4 preferably made of a sieve like basket weave nylon dimensioned to leave space I6 between the cover I2 and the liner I4 which space is maintained by a plurality of vertically extending cords I8 Which are spaced approximately one-half inch apart on the inside of the liner I4 and sewn thereto by horizontal stitching 20 spaced approximately two inches apart, the whole constituting a hollow wall as seen in Fig. 4.

In the back the cover I2 and the liner I4 are joined together by stitching 22 which extends from the collar 24 to the waistline 26 thereby dividing the trunk portion 28 intol two symmetrical areas.

In the front the trunk portion is open, the edges 30of the opening on each side comprising an edge of the inner layer or liner I4, an edge ofthe outer layer or cover I 2 and one of the sides 32 of a zipper all sewn together, Vbut since this treatment would preclude entry of the hand into the space between the outer cover I2 and the inner liner I4 for placement or adjustment of the manifold branches, a short zipper-closed opening 34 is provided on each side, adjacent the edges, for this purpose. 'I'he outer cover I2 and Vinner liner I4 should also be sewn togetheras at 36 at the cui and as at 38 at the sleeve head on each arm, as at 4U at the leg cuffs and as at 42 around the thigh circumference seam.

Elastic strips 44, one inch wide, channeled, are sewn around the circumference of the sleeve head 38 on the liner I4 and around the thigh circumference seam 42. The elastic strips are 0f such circumference as will draw slightly but not enough to cause restriction of blood fiow in the wearer. These elastic strips 44 are made adjustable by means of a female snap fastener 48 Vand three male snap fasteners 50 spaced one inch apart. This adjusting means will insure against mixingr of the air between the several body sections. The same adjusting means 48, 5i) may be used at the arm and leg cuffs for con-' trolling outflow.

A main supply hose 52 brings the conditioned air from the source of supply (not shown) to the Y connector 54 where it divides, half flowing to each half of the symmetrical body areas through adequately heat-insulated tubing 56 to the manifolds 58. The inflow stem of the manifold extends through a close fitting opening in the outer cover I2, the three branches 6E, 62 and 64 of each manifol'dfbeing extended by tubes 66, 68 and 'I5 respectively to the several body areas.

The manifolds are designed So as to partition the air ow to the arms, trunks, and legs on the basis of the total surface area involved. On. this basis the division of the air iiow is approximately 25 percent to the arm area,` 2.5.percent to the trunk area and fifty percent to the leg area.

The tubing 56, 68 and 'i0 is attached to, and

held positioned on, the inner surface of theeoutei'.'

cover l2 by a series of strips l2 of one-half inch wide by three inches long cottonV tape; heldin;

place by snap fasteners '14.

The tubes 66 supplying the arms are approximately 63T in. m. I. D. by 40 inches long and run along the inner surface of the outer cover I2 and over the shoulder as shown and-then curve outward torun along the back seam ofthe sleeve for a distance of four inches from the shoulder circumference seam.

'The tubes 70- supplying thelegs are 13:7' rn'. m. I. D. and extend approximately thirteen inches along the lateral leg seams. The trunk tube @8" on the left side of the suit is so placed that its end is fixed approximately two and one-half inches from the medial distal line of the scapula. The right trunk tube 68, on the other hand.' is Hxed three and one-half inches below theI right nipple. Air therefore, is insured of' circulating in both frontand back' trunk regions of wearer.

The trunk tubes 58 and 66 have an I. D; of 711m; m. These tubes are keptkr inVl place by the elastic tapes-12 whichare positioned ati four inch intervals onlthe inner surface ofthe outer cov-er. In addition to serving as tube retainers these elastic tapes provide the iiexibility necessary for changes inY body: position.

Toprevent loss of air ow due to possible tube constriction, flutes have been placed on all internalwairl supply tubes. The flu-te consists of a one quarter inch Vshaped cut along the tube surface with the apexbeing proximal; One quarterY inch' more proximally along the same plane asthe. V-shaped groover a circular opening is made in the tube onef eighth inch in di.- am'eter. This is followedzby a circular opening of the same diameter` one; quarter inch more, proximally on. the opposite surface of the tube. Thus one or even' two.- orifices areblo'cked, a sufficient air ilow/ may nevertheless be maim tained. All tubesareheld fast to their positions by sewing (i. e.) sewing down4 each tube Vone sixteenth and two inches back from. the distal tube. end'.

Plastic` tubing or thick walled rubber tubing is preferable in order to resist compression. It is required, however, that the tubing permit maximum freedom `of movement.

The manifold barrels 'TB extend through openings in the sidesof the cover |22 and are each pro vided' with a. female quick disconnect part i8 whichv in turn receives the male part '86 of vthe coupling, the male part being .attached to the end of the insulated hose 5.6,. whereby efficient` and rapid engagement and rdisengagement yor the two parts of the coupling may be made. suit` it) and .air manifold 5.8.including the female disconnects 1:8 `comprise the portable part of the equipment, whereas the male disconnects 80',

4 hose 56, Y part 54 and hose 52 make up the fixed part of the system.

The suit is divided intoV symmetrical halves; each half consisting of an arm, leg, and trunk region. Air from the air source not shown passes through the external supply lead system 52, 54, 56, through disconnects-18, 86, into thefmanifold external inlet tubes 16 to the manifold lead tubes 6U, 52, 64, where it is partitioned to the arm, leg, and trunk regions via tubes B5, l0, 66 respectively. The internal Ventilating system provides for an equal diusion of air throughout any one regionyduefto the porous character of the inner meshliner. I4 andthe air impermeability of the outercover I'2'; Spacers 'l2 permit a more completewairiiow, especially in areas subject to compression. Furthermore, segregation of areas kwithintlie'symmetrical suit unit (i. e., separation of arm, leg, and trunk regions from each other) is accomplished by means of attachment of respectivevv regions cf" liner I4 to outerv cover l2. The elastic tapes 441v` further insure against' air loss or leakagefromlone region to another. Thus, a billowing effect occurs throughout the suit (between the mesh of` the inner liner i121 andi the inner surface ofthe outercover l2). Thiseffect tends' to result in a more equal andI even areawideA air distribution, providing, at the-Sametime, an air pillow. which yields a high. degree off freedom of movement as well as increased comfort.

The present suit. offers distinct advantages over that; of other: known; existingl types, in thatV it provides thermal balance; with a much greater efficiency; i. e., with less mass air flow. Furthermore, itis lighter in weight; has a. simpler ventilating tube system. and affords somewhat more freedom of movementthan any air ventilated suit.. heretofore known.

The novel featuresv of" the airl ventilated .suit shownin Fig. 1i are.;

(l) Use of tri-orifice manifoldsiwhich. supply air to armgleg;l and trunk: regions,- of the order. of 25%g 50%ands- 25% of total; flow respectively; the total; now: partitioningv being based on. the surface area involved.

(2) Use of` a fine porousmeshsinner liner which serves-asa: diuserfor the air. supplied, by means of manifold and tubing; tothe various4 body areas.

(3J Use of; small; diameter spacer material to assist in adequate'ventilation of all body areas.

(a.) Simplification of air,` tube arrangement by dividing; thev suit into; two symmetrical halves.

Referring now tothe modification shown in Figs. 2. and 3j, the basic conceptl is the. same as is shown in Fig. 1. Both exempliications include the following features:

y(il) An outer air impermeable cover layer l2.

2) inner mesh porous clot-h liner layer 1 4.

3) A layer of flexbile material for maintainf ing the-first and second layers in spaced relation, andA (4) An air distribution system so manitolded as to-apportion the incoming-.air to the arms, trunk and legson the basis of their respective areas.

In' addition tothe alcove features, the modification shown in Figs. 2` and 3 includes an improved porous spacing material-'flor maintaining sepa-ration-of theY outer cover and the inner liner, an improved air .mani-feld, vand iieriproyedY and legl bandawith improvements, in the manner of distribution ofv lthe conditioned air.

The v'improved poro-usr spacing material Se, used in the; modification. is show-n. inV crossv section in Fig. 5 and in plan in Fig. 6. It consists of a plastic thread` cloth having alternate strips oi light then heavy warp, the heavy strips being corrugated as at 82, Fig. 5. This cloth is a commercially available product and for that reason is not. further described in detail. It is used in the modification instead of the cords I8 of Fig. 4, to keep the outer impervious cover I2 separated from the inner liner I4, as at 84, Fig. 3 and for other purposes hereinafter appearing.

The manifold 86 used in the modification shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may preferably be rst formed of the plastic spacing material 80 shown in Figs. 5 and 6, then completely covered inside, outside, edges and ends with an impervious cloth which may be of the kind used for the outer cover I2, then formed into an annulus which has the ends 90 at the front of the body spaced apart. An air supply tube 92, passes through an opening in the cover l2 into manifold 86 to bring the conditioned air into the suit. The manifold is cross stitched to prevent excess inflation at the higher mass air flows. Thus a relatively noninflatable, yet noncollapsible belt manifold is provided.

Tubes 94 extend from the upper side of the belt manifold 86 to the arm bands 96, while tubes 98 extend from the underside of the belt manifold 88 to the leg bands |00. The arm and leg bands 96 and |00 are constructed in substantially the same manner as the belt manifold 86 except that they are continuous annulae.

Tubes 94 and 98 (see Fig. 7) are rst fabricated of plastic mesh material 80 by rolling up a strip as in Fig. 7 then covering it with a tube of airimpermeable cloth or other fabric. The air carrying capacity of tubes 94 and 98 and the air transfer capacity of the small holes |02, |04, |06

Vand |08 is predetermined so as to distribute the air in the ratio of twenty ve percent to the arms,

fty percent to the legs and twenty five percent to the trunk or such other proportions as experience dictates.

Small openings |02 in the upper edge of the belt manifold 86 and similar small openings |04 in the lower edge 0f the belt manifold 86, both discharge conditioned air into the trunk area. Other small holes |06 in the outflow side of the arm bands 96, Vsupply the conditioned air to the arm area and still other small holes |08 in the bottom edge of the leg bands |00 supply the conditioned air to the leg areas.

We claim:

1. An air conditioned suit having a body section, arm sections, and leg sections, each of said sections comprising an air impervious outer cover, an inner liner of porous fabricand fabric means intermediate said cover and liner maintaining them in continuous spaced relation and providing spaced channels therein, means connecting the respective sections and adjustable to maintain the sections distinct from each other, a manifold mounted in each side of the body section, each manifold having three branches respectively connected to an arm section, a leg section, and the body section, said branches being so constructed and arranged as to deliver approximately 25 percent of the conditioned air ow to the manifolds to the arm sections, 50 percent to the leg sections,

6 and 25 percent to the body section through the spaced channels therein, and means connected to the manifolds to deliver conditioned air thereto whereby a predetermined temperature may be maintained.

2. An air conditioned suit having arm sections, leg sections and a body section, each of said sections comprising an air impervious outer cover, an inner liner of porous fabric, and fabric means intermediate said cover and liner and maintaining them in continuous spaced relation and providing spaced channels therein, means intermediate the respective sections and connected thereto maintaining them distinct from each other, manifold means mounted in the body section and having distributing branches respectively associated With the arm sections, leg sections and body section, the manifold branches being so constructed and arranged as to deliver approximately 25 percent of the conditioned air flow to the manifold to the arm' sections, 50 percent to the leg sections, and 25 percent to the body section through the spaced channels therein and means connected to the manifold to deliver conditioned air thereto whereby a predetermined temperature may be maintained.

3. An air conditioned suit comprising arm sections, leg sections, and a body section, each of said sections comprising an air impervious outer cover, an inner liner of porous fabric and fabric means intermediate said cover and liner and maintaining them in continuous spaced relation and providing spaced channels therein, hollow annular elements separating the respective sections, maintaining them distinct from each other, manifold means mounted in said body section and having distributing branches respectively connected to the arm sections, leg sections, and body section through the hollow annular elements, the distributing branches being so constructed and arranged as to deliver approximately 25 percent of the conditioned air flow to the manifold means Ato the arm sections, 50 percent to the leg sections,

and 25 percent to the body section and through the spaced channels therein, and means connected to the manifold means to delivericonditioned air thereto whereby a predetermined temperature may be maintained.

ARNOLD M. KLEIN. Y JOHN F. HALL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dunn Oct. 3, 1951 

